ISLAMABAD - Musharraf swears in cabinet

Things are changing in Pakistan.

The country has been overshadowed by emergency rule, assassination and a political power struggle over the past six months.

But as Musharraf swore in 24 members of Prime Minister Gilani's cabinet, the occasion could not have been more symbolic.

Eleven of the new ministers belong to assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's party.

A further nine are from former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif's party.

With a cabinet full of foes, there's strong speculation the new government will force Musharraf to quit within weeks or even months.

But the biggest threat to Musharraf is this man.

Deposed Supreme Court justice Iftikhar Chaudhry got a hero's welcome on a visit to his hometown of Quetta.

Musharraf replaced Chaudhry and his colleagues with judges loyal to him when he declared emergency rule in November

The new government has promised to reinstate Chaudhry, a move that is likely to trigger a show-down with Musharraf.

Judges are likely to take up legal challenges to his re-election last October.

Things are looking up for the country, but with so many opponents closing in on him, many say Musharraf's days are numbered.

Suranjana Tewari, Reuters

o·ver·shad·ow tr.v. o·ver·shad·owed, o·ver·shad·ow·ing, o·ver·shad·ows - to make insignificant by comparison; dominate.

strug·gle v. strug·gled, strug·gling, strug·gles

v.intr.

1. To exert muscular energy, as against a material force or mass: struggled with the heavy load.

2. To be strenuously engaged with a problem, task, or undertaking: struggled with his math homework.

3. To make a strenuous effort; strive: struggled to be polite.

4. To contend or compete: "Right and wrong ... will ever continue to struggle" Abraham Lincoln.

5. To progress with difficulty: struggled through the novel.

v.tr.

To move or place (something) with an effort: struggled the heavy desk into the elevator.
foe - an enemy, an adversary; an opponent
trig·ger n.

1.a. The lever pressed by the finger to discharge a firearm.

b. A similar device used to release or activate a mechanism.

2. An event that precipitates other events.

3. Electronics A pulse or circuit that initiates the action of another component.

take up

1. To raise; lift.

2. To reduce in size; shorten or tighten: take up a gown.

3. To pay off (an outstanding debt, mortgage, or note).

4. To accept (an option, bet, or challenge) as offered.

5. To begin again; resume: Let's take up where we left off.

6. To use up, consume, or occupy: The extra duties took up most of my time.

7. To develop an interest in or devotion to: take up mountain climbing.

8. To deal with: Let's take up each problem one at a time.

9. To assume: took up a friendly attitude.

10. To absorb or adsorb: crops taking up nutrients.

11. To enter into (a profession or business): took up engineering.